Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Black Mermaid visible pump

Has anyone ever seen or heard of a Black Mermaid visible pump? Square body,round 10 gallon cylinder,and a square bonnet w/ a light shade on each corner. Light shades look similar to a Tokheim visible. It has a crank on the side not a big handle. If you know anyting about it I would love some information.

According to the information I have, the Blackmer Rotary Pump Co. of Grand Rapids, Michigan (I also have addresses of Petoskey, Michigan and Detroit, Michigan) manufactured something called the Black MerMaid. It could have been a complete pump, but I believe it is only the pumping mechanism and was sold to a company or companies for use in their pump. The Blackmer information I have ranges from 1917 through 1927.
If you could post a picture of the pump here, I may be able to identify it.
Jack Sim
Author, Gas Pump Identification book

I knew I had something else, just took a little longer to find it.
Recently a collector found a Godsalk Pump (made in Los Angeles, CA) and it had a Black MairMaid pumping unit in it. I have a picture of it (the Godsalk) and it will be in my gas pump revision book.
Jack Sim
Author, Gas Pump Identification book

More information. I found a Blackmer ad from 1927 and in the ad they claim to be supplying rotary pumps to 22 pump companies. They are:
American Oil Pump & Tank Co.
Beacon Products Co.
Birmingham Machine & Foundry Co.
Bowser, S.F. Co.
Butler Mfg. Co.
Canada Volcanizer & Equipment Co.
Catron Mfg. Co. (Became Southwest Pump Co.)
Clear Vision Pump Co.
Dayton Pump & Mfg. Co.
Earnest Behen (Arthur, IL)
Fleckenstein Visible
Jewell Co.
Kew Ideal Pump & Mfg. Co.
Progress Mfg. Co.
Pittsburgh Visible Pump
Raymond Garage Equip Co.
Royer Pump & Equip. Co.
St. Louis Pump & Equip. Co.
Springfield Visible Pump Co. (Springfield, TN)
Standard Steel Works (Kansas City, MO)
Visible Pump Co.
Volcker Mfg. Co.
Jack Sim
Author, Gas Pump Identification book.

Thanks Jack I knew somebody would have to know something about the old pump. I'll see if I can get back over to the guys house and take some pictures. It's got the original cylinder,gallon indicators, and good skins. The guy seems to think he has something special. He said he paid 5,000+ in the mid 80's. Might be out of my league.

I should have mentioned, Blackmer is still in business, they are a division of Dover.
Jack Sim
Author, Gas Pump Identification book

I think I know what pump you have 99.5% sure any way. It is a Butler 41. IS there and access door that opens to the side? On the frame of the access door at the bottom left, is there a square space with two holes - that would have been the area for the Id tag. Is the Jar or Jug base square but has rounded off corners? Is the corners that hold the skins on have an additional break on each side. If the answer is yes to these questions, you have a Butler 41. We (my friend, his son, and myself) have 4 of these pumps and only 1 had an ID tag on it.

Hope this helps!!

E. Butler